American swimmers make Olympic history

Simone Manuel cried last night as she made Olympic history.

The 20-year-old became the first African-American woman to win Olympic gold in a swimming event after she touched the wall simultaneously with Canada’s Penny Oleksiak in the 100-meter freestyle. They stood on the top step of the podium together, tears streaming down Manuel’s face.

“All glory to God,” she said in an interview. “I am so blessed.”

African-Americans historically have been underrepresented in the pool. A 2010 report commissioned by US Swimming found 69 percent of African-American children couldn’t swim. This year’s Olympics marks the first time Team USA had two black women swimmers. Manuel hopes her victory will inspire other African-Americans to follow her lead.

And Manuel was not the only American to make history yesterday. Superstar Michael Phelps won his 22nd gold medal, crushing his opposition in the 200-meter individual medley. Phelps now has the highest number of Olympic solo wins ever. His closest rival is Leonidas, a runner who competed between 164 and 152 B.C. But this probably is Phelps’ swimming swan-song. He plans to retire after this Olympics, marry his girlfriend, and travel with their little boy.

Gymnast Simone Biles, however, is just beginning. The 19-year-old won the individual all-around event yesterday, beating teammate Aly Raisman by 2.1 points to became the world’s best female gymnast. This is Biles’ first Olympics, though she has won the world championship three times. Biles will compete in four more events over the next few days as gymnastics winds down and track and field begins.

The athletics events kicked off this morning with a world record. Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia won the women’s 10,000-meter race at Olympic Stadium with a time nearly 15 seconds faster than the previous record-holder. American Molly Huddle, one of our best long-distance runners, came in sixth.

Americans expect to make a better showing in the shorter races. Justin Gatlin, after serving a four-year suspension for drug use, has one last shot to beat the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, in the 100-meter dash. Allyson Felix, a four-time Olympian, hoped to defend her title in the 200-meter this year. But an ankle injury kept her from qualifying for her favorite race. She will only run the 400-meter.

Felix, who grew up in a Christian home, is outspoken about the effect her faith has on her sport: God comes first. She told the LA Times losing her chance to compete in the 200-meter hit her hard but she trusts God’s plan.

“Faith leads my life,” she said. “That is the reason I run.”